Forum Discussion

marquette's avatar
marquette
Explorer
Feb 20, 2015

What is included in Gross Vehicle Weight

Depending on the forum I look at I read all kinds of definitions. Some say it includes 150 lbs driver and 5 gallons of fuel Others 150 lbs for every available seat and a full tank of fuel. And of course multiple in between definitions. Is this because manufactures have changed definitions through the years and you need to know the proper formula for the year of your truck or SUV? Or does it change based on how they want to sell their trucks? Government standards change? Not knowing the standard really makes most of the towing calculators pretty worthless unless your vehicle so far exceeds what you want to tow you don't need to look at a calculator.
This reminds me of the marine industry when they couldn't decide on horsepower or prop rated horsepower to be the standard. Big difference when matching a engine to a boat which you use.

37 Replies

  • kaydeejay wrote:
    kzspree320 wrote:
    The GVRW (gross vehicle weight rating) is the maximum the vehicle can weigh loaded with full fuel, all passengers, all cargo and the hitch or pin weight with the TT or fifth wheel attached. I think you are talking about payload with the 150 lb driver and full tank of fuel. Payload is generally the GVWR less empty weight of truck less full fuel and less 150 lb driver. Also stated as GVWR less weight of truck with full fuel and 150 lb driver. This is my understanding and I hope it helps. Keith
    Close, but not quite!!
    GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) is, as you describe, the maximum that the truck should weigh at any time, according to the Manufacturer's spec.

    PAYLOAD is GVWR minus the EMPTY weight of the truck - no driver, no fuel, and is the "Weight of Occupants and Cargo must not exceed" number on the tire label near the driver's door on post 2005 trucks.

    MTWR (Max Tow Weight Rating) is the maximum the truck is supposed to pull. This number DOES allow for a 150# driver. It is also reduced by every additional pound that is loaded into the truck. It is NOT necessarily what the truck can actually pull as that may be limited by the weight on the pin or tongue causing the truck weight to increase to GVWR.

    Another way to calculate MTWR is to take the GCWR (Gross Combination Weight Rating) and subtract the loaded "ready to travel" weight of the truck.

    Hope that helps.


    I went to the Ford Super Duty brochure payload specifications and copied and pasted this footnote below:

    Maximum capabilities shown are for properly equipped vehicles with required equipment and a 150-lb. driver. Weight of additional options, equipment, passengers and cargo must be deducted from this weight. For additional
    information, see your Ford Dealer


    Based on their own brochure, at least Ford subtracts the standard 150 lb driver in its payloads shown in the brochure. It does not say to subtract weight of fuel so that must mean it includes a full tank of fuel, since I seriously doubt the average person would consider fuel to be cargo.

    Other companies may compute brochure payloads differently, so you have to read the small print footnotes.
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    This is what GOOGLE says:

    Gross vehicle weight rating - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_vehicle_weight_rating
    Wikipedia

    "The gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), or gross vehicle mass (GVM) is the maximum operating weight/mass of a vehicle as specified by the manufacturer including the vehicle's chassis, body, engine, engine fluids, fuel, accessories, driver, passengers and cargo but excluding that of any trailers."

    Of course this probably depends on who you are talking too...

    Roy Ken
  • GVW or GVWR.
    A GVW (gross vehicle weight) is simply how much a vehicle weighs.

    A GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) which may be a number assigned to a vehicle either from the vehicle manufacturer or assigned by a state or by a certified vehicle alterer/modifier.

    Plug the poper in.
  • In reference to your truck, if GVWR is 10,000, it cannot weigh more than that when parked on the scale.

    Same if referring to your trailer, if sticker says GVWR 10,000, it cannot weight more than that, parked on the scale by itself.

    Jerry
  • kzspree320 wrote:
    The GVRW (gross vehicle weight rating) is the maximum the vehicle can weigh loaded with full fuel, all passengers, all cargo and the hitch or pin weight with the TT or fifth wheel attached. I think you are talking about payload with the 150 lb driver and full tank of fuel. Payload is generally the GVWR less empty weight of truck less full fuel and less 150 lb driver. Also stated as GVWR less weight of truck with full fuel and 150 lb driver. This is my understanding and I hope it helps. Keith
    Close, but not quite!!
    GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) is, as you describe, the maximum that the truck should weigh at any time, according to the Manufacturer's spec.

    PAYLOAD is GVWR minus the EMPTY weight of the truck - no driver, no fuel, and is the "Weight of Occupants and Cargo must not exceed" number on the tire label near the driver's door on post 2005 trucks.

    MTWR (Max Tow Weight Rating) is the maximum the truck is supposed to pull. This number DOES allow for a 150# driver. It is also reduced by every additional pound that is loaded into the truck. It is NOT necessarily what the truck can actually pull as that may be limited by the weight on the pin or tongue causing the truck weight to increase to GVWR.

    Another way to calculate MTWR is to take the GCWR (Gross Combination Weight Rating) and subtract the loaded "ready to travel" weight of the truck.

    Hope that helps.
  • The GVRW (gross vehicle weight rating) is the maximum the vehicle can weigh loaded with full fuel, all passengers, all cargo and the hitch or pin weight with the TT or fifth wheel attached. I think you are talking about payload with the 150 lb driver and full tank of fuel. Payload is generally the GVWR less empty weight of truck less full fuel and less 150 lb driver. Also stated as GVWR less weight of truck with full fuel and 150 lb driver. This is my understanding and I hope it helps. Keith
  • The GVW includes the weight of the vehicle, fuel, people, and anything after market bolted on or carried. The GVW is what the maximum allowed weight the vehicle is rated. That is what is on the sticker on the driver's door.